A 13-year-old girl has travelled to Washington DC as an ambassador for diabetes charity Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF).

Millie Hainge, from Sharnford, is to meet Congress men and women from across America on a five day trip to share her experience of living with Type 1 diabetes.

The keen campaigner was invited to attend the congress as a guest for JDRF, after being left feeling unsatisfied from visiting the Houses of Parliament.

Millie produced her own manifesto earlier this year, ahead of the general election, and went to persuade MPs to fight for those with the condition.

Jo Hainge, Millie’s mum, said that the trip is for business only as Millie will be busy meeting people before returning home tomorrow.

She added: “If there is time, we will hopefully get to see some things but she is at the Embassy on Monday, at the Senate on Tuesday and at the Congress Wednesday.”

British ambassador Sir Peter Westmacott will meet the teenager while she is in Washington.

Millie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was nine ­years ­old and is continuing to fight for a fairer future for other sufferers.

Millie said: “I am really excited to be visiting the Congress. It is a wonderful opportunity to share my story and represent the many thousands of people from all around the world that live with this condition.

“Type 1 diabetics are all living on life support, we are all dependent on insulin; it is a disease that doesn’t recognise age, colour or geography and so why not take my message to one of the world’s super powers.

“It doesn’t matter who finds a cure just that one is found.”

It will be a first time experience for Millie as mum, Jo, said: “She has been on holiday with her family to Disney, San Francisco, Florida and Vegas but she has never been to Washington.”

Type 1 diabetes affects adults and children and those diagnosed are must injected or pump insulin into their bodies for the rest of their lives.

The cause of the condition is unclear and there is no cure at present.